How to Fillet a Pike (and Get 5 Boneless Fillets!)

Northern pike are known as a tricky fish to fillet boneless due to the high amount of y bones.

Today I show you the best way to clean a pike, resulting in 5 beautiful boneless fillets. Bigger fish are of course better but this method works wonders for both big and small fish.

Northern Pike have bones going through the whole body but they do not reach around the top of the fish. This means that the top and the sides of the fish can easily be removed without any bones.

How to Fillet a Northern Pike:

Start with the top of the Pike - have the Pike on it's belly so it's back is facing you. Place your knife behind the neck. Cut downwards and then turn the knife towards the tail of the fish to cut right across the tops of the bones all the way to the fin. You'll cut all the way and end the steak at the start of the fin.

That's one solid fillet with no bones, and you can now see the top of the bones from where you removed your fillet in the fish. Flip the fish to its side and, using the ybones as a guide, slice the knife along the side of the Pike, sliding along the y bones, to create another boneless fillet. Cut across at the neck and back fin of the northern pike to finish your second boneless fillet. Then flip the fish and do the same thing to the other side for a third boneless fillet.

You can cut two more bone-less fillets out of this Pike. There are Y-bones under the fin beside the fillets you've removed. Skip this section and move your knife slightly towards its tail end to just in front of his anal fin. Cut straight down here until you feel the bone. Then turn the knife towards his tail fin for another boneless fillet.

And there you have 5 Northern Pike fillets without any bones.

Don't forget to get the cheeks of the Pike!

Follow our ongoing fishing adventures

As always until next time, good luck and good fishin'!

How to Fillet a Pike to Get 5 Boneless Fillets

[bryangmailmcgrath]

My hat is off to this patient, ingenious pike harvester,  who seems to never miss a beat - smiling all the while.. while explaining this unique butchery in the midst of wind, slime, and newspapers flapping.

[AvionJordan]

As a 13 year old from Manitoba I can’t stop watching your fillet videos they helped me learn how to fillet a fish with no bones

[kristenheinzel]

The best northern pike fileting video I've seen. Very thorough and no meat wasted

[mitchdecaire]

Thanks from Manitoba! .. My son and I are enjoying a boneless fish fry as I type this. Great video.

[braddeforest]

I've watched other ways to fillet a pike but they were all extremely difficult. This makes it quick and easy and I can finally enjoy my fish without getting throat stabbed. Great video.

[rylanreed]

Hey, tried out your technique the other day - worked like a charm! I’ve always thrown back pike because I couldn’t fillet them properly... never again. Thanks!

[TechO]

My grandfather taught me how to filet a pike many moons ago. Both ways start the same by cutting off the back, but your technique to cut along the Y bones looks more intuitive. I will give this a try. Thanks!

[RobertMay-oh]

I have been using your method for about 15 years. You did an excellent presentation. Looking forward to watching more.

[crackerjackcreek]

I don't know why YouTube suggest this video, but man it was awesome

[timothyreid]

This is the third clean a pike video I've watched and by far the best. Clear and concise but what does it for me is the camera angle. I can actually see what's going on. Thank you

[stefanhakansson]

Super good video, have shown it to many people so you have taught many Swedish people to easily fail a pike, many thanks for the video and that you are always nice 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

[philthybolt]

Very straightforward and easy to understand. Thanks for making a great instructional video!

[JohnSmith-ccud]

This is my first time with a northern pike and after watching this video about 3 or 4 times (for confidence...the first time was clear as day) my first pike was done very nicely. Awesome awesome video
👍👍

[billschipper]

I grew up in Minnesota and you're right that nothing beats fresh fish. Pike, Walleyes, crappies and sun fish are great to eat.

[miker.]

Best video on this topic I've ever watched. I 'll be sharing this one. Thank you from the land of the mighty northern pike !

[bigbkeepitreelfishing]

Thanks to this guy, I keep Pike all the time.  I just caught several at Lake Saint Clair yesterday.  They are delicious. Deep fried, breaded, in peanut oil. Just as good as walleye.  I love this method.  Boom fish on.

[thelittlestmig]

This is the best way I've seen this done ever. You, sir, have just elevated the pike from the worst fish I eat to the best.

[thomasskoglund]

Hats off from Sweden. The bad reputation that pike has is undeserved. Properly prepared it's very good eating.

[lonewolffisherman]

Saw this video and have been doing it this way ever since. This is the easiest way I've seen it done. Great video!

[bertaholicwayzmith]

Got a nice northern today on the ice and remembered this video so I kept it. I was amazed of how much meat I can get off these!